Below-par Reds held by City
Liverpool will now turn their attentions to the Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant free-kick as Manchester United overcame Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Old Trafford this afternoon. |  |
Sunday, 22, Feb 2009 10:29
Liverpool's title hopes have been dented by a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at Anfield.
Dirk Kuyt scored 11 minutes from time after Craig Bellamy had given City the lead with a deflected strike.
The draw means the Reds trail leaders Manchester United by seven points. And if Liverpool are to beat United on March 14th, they will need a vast improvement on their display against City.
Without the injured Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, the Reds created half-chances with Fernando Torres slicing a volley wide while no-one in a Red shirt managed to connect with teasing crosses from Alvaro Arbeloa and then Albert Riera.
The Reds then wasted a host of chances in a matter of minutes with Dirk Kuyt heading over, Riera dragging a shot wide, while Shay Given smothered Andrea Dossena's daisy-cutter.
Mark Hughes' side nearly made the Reds pay with Robinho teeing up Stephen Ireland whose shot was parried by Pepe Reina before the midfielder hit the rebound into the side-netting.
City improved after the break with Vincent Kompany testing Reina with a strike from 25 yards.
But the Spanish keeper could do nothing to prevent the visitors grabbing the lead on 51 minutes when Bellamy’s shot struck Arbeloa and spun into the net against his old club.
Liverpool's performance remained flat with Benitez opting to bring on Nabil El Zahr rather than Ryan Babel.
But Liverpool, who have scored 21 goals in the last 15 minutes of matches this season, continued their reputation as comeback kings when Kuyt poked his shot past Given after Torres had mis-hit his effort.
The home side came agonisingly close to snatching a late winner with Kuyt rifling a shot across goal while their penalty appeals were turned down when Dunne blocked Yossi Benayoun's header. But they were unable to clinch victory to draw their ninth game of the season.